Multi-operational punch

ABSTRACT

A certain type of mine bolt expansion shell has shell halves secured to either end of a metal strap and a wedging nut, the strap being bent on either side of the nut to hold the assembly together. Assembly requires bending over tongues projecting from the shell halves, trueing the shell halves, and bending the strap. A punch and die for performing these operations at a single station has die recesses in which all the parts can be assembled and arranged and a punch which can be advanced and withdrawn by means of a press for bending the tongues and trueing the halves in a first operation, the punch including ram means for performing the bending operation after the first operation is complete. Withdrawal of the die after the first operation automatically initiates operation of the ram means.

Unite Prince States Patent 1191 MULTI-OPERATIONAL PUNCH 21 Appl. No.: 369,267

[52] US. Cl. 29/200 3, 72/347, 72/356 [51] Int. Cl B2ld 53/36, B23p 11/00 [58] Field of Search 72/384, 389, 381-383,

1451 Oct. 22, 1974 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bruns & Jenney [5 7 ABSTRACT A certain type of mine bolt expansion shell has shell halves secured to either end of :a metal strap and a wedging nut, the strap being bent on either side of the nut to hold the assembly together. Assembly requires bending over tongues projecting from the shell halves, trueing the shell halves, and bending the strap. A punch and die for performing these operations at a single station has die recesses in which all the parts can be assembled and arranged and a punch which can be advanced and withdrawn by means of a press for bending the tongues and trueing the halves in a first operation, the punch including ram means for performing the bending operation after the first operation is complete. Withdrawal of the die after the first operation automatically initiates operation of the ram means.

1 Claim, 14 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,431,175 10/1922 Ogden et aI. 72/347 1,879,078 9/1932 Carlsen 72/347 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 217,150 2/1957 Australia 72/34a PAIENIEB M2219" SNEH 201- 5 PATENTED v 3.842.476

SHEET SLBF 5 MULTI-OPERATIONAL PUNCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a double acting punch adapted to be moved against a die for shaping and forming the work, the punch being provided with ram means for performing-asuccessive bending operation on the work, the operation of the ram being initiated automatically by the withdrawal of the punch from the work.

Punches have been provided for successive strokes to contact different portions of the work but it is required that the work be moved between strokes. This requires additional time and means for securing the work in relative position while being moved.

Moreover, bending operations have been performed by use of a punch or ram. However, the bending of an elongated member to a U-shaped configuration is traditionally performed by supporting the elongated member at its center and bending both ends of the member by pushing them in the same direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates assembling the parts of an expansion shell for mine bolts on a die having recesses for the portions and then, at a single station, joining certain of the parts together by a press-carried punch and then bending another portion of the shell by pushing a part of the shell assembly between two spaced portions of the die. The pushing is done, without moving the work, by a ram carried as an integral portion of the punch and whose operation is automatically initiated at the completion of the press-operated joining operation.

It will be understood that the particular structure of the parts of the work, the mine bolt expansion shell, require that the parts of the shell assembly be brought to the die in which they are arranged with a particular side up if they are to be automatically arranged on thedie. This requires that tongues on the shell halves project downward into recesses in the die and, since the tongues must be bent over, anvil portions of the die are supported below a spring supported platform so that the shell halves on the platform may be carried on the platform and forced downward by portions of the punch so that the tongues are bent over.

The expansion shell to be assembled includes a wedging nut to be held in place by a metal strap bent U- shaped. The ends of the strap are secured to shell halves and, as these halves are carried in recesses in the die precluding their being bent upward, the strap is bent U-shaped by forcing the center down between a spaced pair of die members by means of the ram after the punch, on which the ram is carried, is withdrawn by the press away from the strap ends.

It will be understood that the pressing operation and succeeding ram operation is particularly appropriate as carried out as the last station in an automated arrangement where the prior stations comprise conveyer means for successively positioning the component parts of the expansion shell on the die.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of a punch according to the invention, certain parts of the front side plate being broken away to show structure therebeyond;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1,

certain parts being omitted; I

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hydraulic cylinder shown in FIG. 2 as viewed on theline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a die for use with the ram of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the die of FIG.

4; FIG. 7 isa sectional view on the line 77 of FIG. 5;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to sheet 4 of the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1'1, an assembled expansion shell 15 comprises two identical shell halves 16, shown in perspective in FIG. 8, a strap 17, shown in perspective in FIG. 9, and a wedging nut 18, also shown in FIG. 10. As seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, strap 17 has two curved centering portions 20, whose purpose will hereinafter become evident, the portion 21 between curved portions 20 is reversely curved. At each end strap 17 is provided with a pair of grooves 22 in the opposite edges.

As seen in FIG. 8, each shell half 16 has a spaced pair of curved and toothed legs 23 connected together at one end by a substantially semicircular portion 24. The portion 24 has a spaced pair of ears 25, one on each side of a recess 26 and in the recess a spaced pair of round lugs 27 project. The lugs 27 are adapted to be engaged in the grooves 2222 at each end of strap 17, as shown in FIG. 10, and the ears 25 are adapted to be bent over, as shown, to secure a shell half at each end of strap 17.

The wedging nut 18 is frusto-conical as best seen in FIG. 11 and has an axially extending threaded hole 28 (FIG. 10) adapted to receive the threaded end of the mine bolt, as well known in the art. Nut 18 has a pair of diametrically opposite slots 29 adapted to receive strap 17, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and has a pair of diametrically opposite projecting locator ribs 30, as shown.

Turning now to the punch 31 of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the die 32, shown in FIGS. 4-7, it will be hereinafter described how die 32 is adapted to receive the component parts of the expansion shell 15 as they are assembled thereon and punch 31 is adapted to stake". or bend over the tongues 25, coin or true up the shape of the shell halves 16 and assemble the component parts into expansion shell 15 by bending strap 17.

It will be understood that when the assembling of the component parts on die 32 is hereinafter referred to the assembling may be done manually or, preferably, by means of vibrating conveyers at successive stations as the die is moved from station to station by indexing means.

Referring to FIGS. 4-7, the die 32 has a base 33 and a platform or die body 34 supported on four springs 35. As best seen in FIGS. and 7, the springs 35 are coiled around shoulder bolts 36 which secure the body 34 to base 33. Bolts 36 are recessed in base 33, as shown, and hence are free to move with respect to the base. When springs 35 are compressed they each exert over 500 lbs. pressurej As best seen in FIG. 5, there is a hole 37 at the center of body 34 and under this hole a plunger 38 is free to move downward with respect to body 34. Plunger 38 is recessed for a spring 39, which is similar to springs 35, so that plunger 38 is nonnally supported in raised position by spring 39.

On either side of hole 37 one of a spaced pair of shaping members 40-40 extends longitudinally and is secured, as shown in FIG. 5, in a slot in body 34. On either side of each member 40 a contour member 41 is secured as shown in FIG. 4. Each member 41 has a hollow 42 in which a shell half leg 23 is adapted to lie and be shaped therein. On either side of the hole 37 smaller hollows 43 provide a vertical wall 44 (see FIG. 7) on either side of contour member 40 for locating strap 17 at the center of die 32.

The curves seek the hole 37 in the body by contact with the curved portions of the members 40-40 when strap 17 is placed on top of members 40, the walls 44 aligning the strap on top of the members 40. The strap, inverted from the disposition shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 extends at either end beyond the hollows 42 and the shell half semicircular portion 24 of each half is adapted to lie in another hollow 45 formed in each end of body 34 or, as shown in the drawings, in an end piece 46 secured to body 34 by dowels 47 and screws 48 as shown in FIG. 6.

At the center of each hollow 45 a hole 49 houses a substantially cylindrical anvil member 50 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The anvil has at least one side flatted at 51 to cooperate with a flatted side of hole 49 at 52 to keep the anvil 50 from turning and plainly shown in FIG. 6.

The top of anvil 50 is concavely curved from side to side, as best seen at 53 in FIG. 6, for bending over the pendant ears of the shell halves when the punch is operated as will appear. The anvils 50 are supported on base 33, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 so that the ears are bent after the shell halves and base are carried downward by compressing springs 35.

It will also be noted that at the point where hollows 42 and 43 meet a vertical shoulder 54 is formed which is useful in accurately locating the shell halves (FIGS; 5 and 7).

Referring now to FIG. 4 a magnet 55 is carried on an L-shaped support 56 secured to body 34 adjacent the hole 37. As shown in FIG. 13 the magnet 55 has a projecting portion 57 with a square notch in it and another projecting portion 58 with a V-shaped notch in it. After the strap and shell halves are arranged on the die 32, the wedging nut 18 is brought to the die and placed upon the center of strap 17 inverted from the disposition shown in FIG. 10. The magnet serves as a nut holder with one of the ribs located in the square notch in projection 57 and the'V-notch in projection 58 embracing the rounded lower portion of nut 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the punch 31 has two press plates 60 secured together on either side of r a hydraulic cylinder 61, best seen in FIG. 2 by a front plate 62 and a back plate 63. Plates 62 and 63 are secured to the upper portions of plates 60 by a plurality of partially recessed bolts 64.

Cylinder 61 has a square upper head 65 and a square lower head 66 bolted together as is usual in such cylinders and, as shownin FIG. 2, flexible hydraulic lines 67 and 68, respectively, are connected to the heads through appropriate holes in the back plate 63. Appropriate bolts 69 secure the heads to the front plate 62. Atop plate 70 is bolted to plates 62 and 63 and a shank 71 is secured to the top plate adapting the punch to be secured in a press. I

The lower ends of plates 60 have hardened support members 72 bolted thereto for securing in place hardened rounded press and shaping members 73 bolted to the support members as shown in FIG. 1.

Cylinder 61 has the usual piston 74 secured to piston rod 75 for forming a ram as indicated in FIG. 2. The lower end of rod 75 is threaded as shown in FIG. 2 for carrying thereon a clamp member 76, spacing collars 77 and 78, a hexagonal ram cap 79 with a bullet nosed point 80, all shown in FIG. 1.

The clamp member 76 has a vertically disposed and upwardly projecting ram control rod 81 secured to its forward end and a rod guide 82 having linear bearing means 83 for the rod is bolted to plate 62 as shown in FIG. 2. As best seen in FIG. 1, rod 81 has another clamp member 84 secured to its upper end for carrying an adjusting screw 85.

The screw 85 is adapted to operate the switch arm 86 of a reversing switch 87 secured to plate 62 of the punch for returning the ram cap 79 on rod 75 after the ram has completed its stroke.

Referring to FIG. 2, another switch 88 is mounted on the support or frame of the press, not shown, and is adapted to be operated by an arm 89 secured to top plate 70 for initiating the operation of the ram.

In operation, after the component parts of the expansion shell 15 have been assembled on the die 32 either by hand or automatically, the press in which punch 31 is mounted is operated manually or by operation of suitable indexing mechanism to lower the punch against the work assembled on die 32.

The shaping members 73 at each side of the punch contact the shell halves and force them into the hollows 42 and 45 of the die, coining or trueing the shape of legs 23. The tongues 25 on the shell halves are carried down with the platform or body 34 until the tongues strike anvils 50 which stake" or bend over the tongues to lock the shell halves to the ends of strap 17. The bullet nose of the ram enters the threaded hole 28 of the wedging nut 18 and centers the nut over hole 37 of the die if it is not correctly aligned.

When sufficient pressure is attained the punch is raised by the operator or by automatic means and arm 89 operates switch 88. Hydraulic fluid introduced into cylinder 61 through the hose 67 and the ram is carried down until the ram cap 79 contacts the wedging nut 18 and forces it and the middle portion of strap 17 down against plunger 38 compressing its spring 39. The strap is thus bent, as shown in FIG. 12, by the spaced members 40.

As the nut 18 is carried down by the ram the center portion of the strap contacts plunger 38 backed by its spring 39 and the counter-curved center portion 21 of the strap is flattened by the pressure of the plunger and by the bending of the strap at the curves -20.

As the ram bottoms, the screw 85 contacts switch arm 86 operating switch 87 which diverts hydraulic fluid from the pump, not shown, from hose 67 to hose 68 to raise piston 74 and the ram to the position shown in FIGS, 1 and 2. Operation of the punch is thus completed and the operator removes the assembled expansion shell 15, squeezing legs 23 together and slipping a plastic tube 90 over the ends of the legs as shown in FIG. 14. The shell is then ready for shipment.

I claim:

1. A punch and die combination for performing a plurality of operations assembling a mine bolt expansion shell, the shell having a half secured at either end of a connecting strap and a wedge nut, the strap being bent substantially U-shaped on either side of the nut for holding the shell together, the shell halves having tongues bent over by a staking operation to secure them to the straps and requiring trueing by a coining operation, the bending into U-shape of the strap constituting the assembly operation; the die having a platform with an elongated recess for receiving a partially bent strap and recesses for receiving the shell halves at either end of the strap, the platform being supported on springs, each shell half recess having a base supported portion for staking the tongues, the elongated recess having a spaced pair of members at its center; the punch having press portions for forcing the shell halves against the die and a ram portion for forcing a wedging nut at the center portion of the strap down between the spaced members for bending the strap U-shaped, the punch being adapted to be carried by a press for forcing the shell halves against the die and then for withdrawing the press portions, independent motor means for advancing the ram portion against the wedge nut for forcing it down and then withdrawing the ram portion, the independent motor means being secured to the press portion of the punch, and means for automatically initiating operation and withdrawal of the second motor means upon withdrawal of the press portion of the punch. 

1. A punch and die combination for performing a plurality of operations assembling a mine bolt expansion shell, the shell having a half secured at either end of a connecting strap and a wedge nut, the strap being bent substantially U-shaped on either side of the nut for holding the shell together, the shell halves having tongues bent over by a staking operation to secure them to the straps and requiring trueing by a coining operation, the bending into U-shape of the strap constituting the assembly operation; the die having a platform with an elongated recess for receiving a partially bent strap and recesses for receiving the shell halves at either end of the strap, the platform being supported on springs, each shell half recess having a base supported portion for staking the tongues, the elongated recess having a spaced pair of members at its center; the punch having press portions for forcing the shell halves against the die and a ram portion for forcing a wedging nut at the center poRtion of the strap down between the spaced members for bending the strap U-shaped, the punch being adapted to be carried by a press for forcing the shell halves against the die and then for withdrawing the press portions, independent motor means for advancing the ram portion against the wedge nut for forcing it down and then withdrawing the ram portion, the independent motor means being secured to the press portion of the punch, and means for automatically initiating operation and withdrawal of the second motor means upon withdrawal of the press portion of the punch. 